Melanie Keane’s sewing journey is very community driven.

This is a two-part series and Melanie began sewing 9 years ago through quilting.

In 2020 Melanie and her family sewed over 100 pairs of scrubs for frontline workers, transforming sewing into a meaningful family activity. This experience deepened her connection to the craft and led her to explore garment and bag making, where she found joy in blending functionality with artistic expression.

Beyond her personal projects, Melanie’s dedication to sewing extended into community service.

By fundraising for sewing machines and supplies, she empowered refugee women with a creative outlet and a sense of purpose. For many, this initiative became a path to healing and self-confidence.

Melanie’s sewing journey illustrates how sewing can be more than a skill—it can be a tool for reusing textiles, social connection, and something to look forward to each day.

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Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.

SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism. 

Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist.

Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.